MY WORD FOR 2016 - EMBRACE!

#midlife blog ~ crestingthehill.com.au

MY WORD FOR 2016

This time last year I wrote a post about choosing a word for 2015. The word that covered what I wanted for the year was "Release" - and I wrote about it here. There were a lot of areas in my life where I was holding on too tightly and I needed to let them go and see where life took me. Looking back I can see so much transformation and that has led to me choosing a new word for 2016 that is almost the opposite to Release - and that's ~ Embrace ~.

FROM LETTING GO...

2015 was a year for letting go of a job where I felt under appreciated and frustrated. It was time for me to walk away and take the risk that there may or may not be something new waiting for me to move into. It also meant releasing my husband from the resentment that I had that he could work from home while I trundled off to a job that I really didn't enjoy.

It was a year of releasing my adult children from the Brady Bunch expectations I held for them and allowing them to set the parameters of our relationship. Holding on too tightly suffocates them and pushes them away. It was the same with friendships - some needed to be released because they had run their course and struggling to maintain the connection was pointless. This then freed up space for those friendships that were worth investing my time into and nurturing and enjoying.

TO OPENING UP

Now 2016 has rolled around I can look back and see that things are more balanced. I'm more secure in my relationships and my life and this means that I am open to new ideas and new experiences. I think I'm ready to embrace change and being a little bit more adventurous in my choices (although I won't be jumping out of a plane or off a cliff any time soon!)

#midlife blog ~ crestingthehill.com.au

I'm feeling really open to what this year holds in store for me. I'm ready to embrace new projects - I have a vision for a large stained glass endeavour that I want to tackle, I have just started contributing to the Millers Seeing Me Project blog and I'm hoping that will bring a new dimension to my writing, I'm enjoying my new job and working less days, I'd like to fit in a little bit of travel, I have our first grandbaby due in April and I'm hoping to get lots of baby cuddles over the year.

TIME TO EMBRACE LIFE

Life is good - happiness resides in our own pocket - not in someone else's. I'm going to embrace who I'm becoming and what life holds for me - no more holding back and clutching on to the safe choices because there is no fun in that. Life is for the bold and I'm ready to be braver. 

Have you thought of a word for 2016? It's an interesting way to measure how far you've come and whether your life is growing and getting bigger and better. I'd love to know your word for 2016 (if you have one) or what you are doing to make 2016 bigger and better. Leave me a comment and let's share this together! 


34 comments

  1. I love the word EMBRACE...it is wonderful. Last year my word was COURAGE...this year I think it will be PERSISTANCE more than anything! Enjoyed th epost!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think persistence is the key to a lot of things in life Pam - we need to soldier on through the tough stuff and then celebrate what we've achieved at the end! I'll be with you all the way!

      Delete
  2. What a great word to choose Leanne. And it shows just how much you have grown the past year to be able to go full circle and chose an almost opposite word. I chose the word Balance for this year, but I'm not going to write about it. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the word Balance Mary because it's so important and a real sign that you're doing life in the right way. I think I want to fill myself up with new things and feel like I've moved forward this year and grown more as a person.

      Delete
  3. So fun to watch your very interesting journey. Are you going to Vegas? Would love to chitchat about blogging and how it changes us in such unexpected ways.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As much as I would LOVE to go to Vegas Mithra, it is way out of my budget from Australia but I'm sure it will be an amazing time - enjoy!

      Delete
  4. What a great, great word! It says so much about your journey and about you! I'm going into a huddle to come up with mine . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just loved it and I think it makes me think about being open to change and growth - let me know if you come up with one - yours would be sure to be interesting!

      Delete
  5. Great word! I am looking forward to hearing more about your stained glass project, and congratulations on a grandbaby!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Terri - I'm just hoping the stained glass project doesn't turn out to be bigger than my vision of my abilities! The grandbaby is such exciting news :)

      Delete
  6. Hi Leanne! Happy New Year! Embrace is the perfect word to follow release isn't it. Last year I used the word "self-reliant" and got so much out of that idea. I think this year I'm choosing "empowerment" but I haven't written about it yet--I will let you know. May 2016 lead us both toward our intentions and be filled with peace, happiness and all the good we can embrace! ~Kathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I see you as such an empowered person Kathy so I think that is a great word for you! I wish you exactly the same things for 2016 and I look forward to reading and learning more from you this year :)

      Delete
  7. What a great word! I love it - embrace all the wonderful things! I am working on my own word, this isn't easy heh :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really hard to drill it down to one word Julie but when you hit on it then you just know it's the right one - I hope you find yours :)

      Delete
  8. What a great word for the year! I actually chose three: kindness, strength and courage. I have a challenging year ahead, and I'm going to need all three! I love your statement about letting your adult kids set the parameters of your relationship. This is something I want to work on as my boys take their next step.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You've got a fair amount on your hands with the year ahead Lana and I think you'll need those three words to get through it all graciously! I hope your mum is continuing to mend xx

      Delete
  9. I think you and I are in the same boat, if not a similar one. Last year, I, too, had to leave a job that was causing way too much stress (mostly because of my boss, not my clients), and my home life was suffering for it. I was mentally checked out at home and my relationship with my young children is the most important thing in the world to me so when I started to realize they were suffering from my mental drain, I decided it was time to move on. Leaving was hard because I really didn't have a plan or know what to do next. I took a big risk and even though I'm still in a stand still career wise, I am actively searching for my purpose. Leaving that job lead me to blogging and blogging has been really good for me in finding my purpose and my own voice. I love your word for 2016! Embrace sounds like the perfect word for where I am heading with my own sense of self and with my life. Another great post! You really know how to make people think and I love it! #waywow

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks so much Michelle - I stayed way too long in that last job where it was awful but bearable and I was too scared to leave. It was the best thing I ever did and I have not regretted it for one nano-second. I started blogging around the same time and it was a huge incentive for giving myself the push I needed to leave. I'm sure the perfect next step will come for you and in the meantime load up the love on those children of yours! x

      Delete
  10. I definitely will! After all, they're only little for a short time and I want to spend every minute with them!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I thinkmy word for 2016 would be acceptance. This is something that began in 2015 but is not a finished project. I need to accept who I am, accept the way certain things have turned out. They might not be fair, but I need to let go of the hurt and move on.
    I hope you share your stained glass project with us when it is done.
    Thanks for sharing with us, Tracey xx #abitofeverything

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tracey - acceptance is a good word for moving forward - I think we have to take ownership of stuff and decide what we want to keep or discard and then we can move in the direction that is best for us. Good luck & I'll definitely link up the stained glass when I get to do it :)

      Delete
  12. I love this word! And your word for last year, they are both about becoming and that's huge in my book. I want to become all I can while I am here on this earth, for me, my family and others that I touch with my life! So impressed with your journey, you inspire me! Wishing you a year full of wonderful things to embrace!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nikki - I think it's something a lot of us are waking up to at this stage of life - the fact that there is so much more out there for us if we are prepared to take it in and be brave enough to try new stuff. Thanks for being part of my journey :)

      Delete
  13. This is the first year I've ever heard about choosing a word instead of a long list of resolutions...and I LOVE the idea!! I'm going to have to think about what my word will be though as its a new thought and I want to choose the right one. Thank you for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll have to let me know if you come up with one Mary - and the link up goes until the end of January if you end up writing a post about your word!

      Delete
  14. Love the word you've chosen - "Embrace" is so positive and uplifting! Thank you so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Laurel I love the whole word for the year idea and I'm hoping I can look back and see lots of positives from it x

      Delete
  15. Lovely post! Just what I needed to read! Don't waste time with regret --- that's what I would like to do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. regret is indeed a waste of time - learn and move on and embrace what comes next!

      Delete
  16. Thank you for the invite to link up. I love reading other people's words. You wrote an amazing post here. Love the quote. This is truly a great reminder to "EMBRACE" this year, whatever it has waiting for us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Michelle and I'm glad you came over and linked up. I've been enjoying reading and browsing the other words and the meanings behind them.

      Delete
  17. So much good stuff is going to come your way this year Leanne. I can feel it! You've got such a positive attitude and I love it. I always feel inspired when I visit your blog. I'm going to embrace it too this year. I feel this year is going to be a rollercoaster (a fun one) with house moves, weddings and more but I'm ready to embrace it. Here's to a fun 2016.

    Sally @ Life Loving
    #LifeLovingLinkie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you go girl! I think there's nothing like a wedding to make the year exciting and moving house just adds to it all. My year won't be quite so thrilling but I'm looking forward to what it brings along for me :)

      Delete
  18. I love the idea of embracing who you are becoming and what the world has in store for you - reminds you that life is an adventure (even when we are not jumping out of a plane or off a cliff).

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.